Chapter Thirteen
Toyman Apprehended Thanks To Mystery Hero by Lois Lane and Clark Kent was one of the headlines in the Daily Planet's paper but not the front page that was reserved for Lex Luthor announcing that he was running for mayor.
Today was not a good day for Clark to be on Lois's bad side and he went through the entire day trying to avoid her by using his superhearing to listen for her then disappearing before she showed up to question him about the bombshell that was dropped in her lap.
"Are you avoiding me Clark?" her voice caused him to jump and spill hot coffee on his shirt while several of the reporters let out a chuckle at his embarrassment until Lois gave them her death glare and they went right back to work, "I am so sorry." She goes to grab some napkins and just watched him start to unbutton his shirt right in the middle of the bullpen prompting Lois to grab him by the arm leading him towards the supply room.
"Not that I'm complaining but I'm sure doing a striptease in front of everyone will earn you a one way trip to the basement and trust me you do not want to be stuck down there for the remainder of your journalistic career." She states just when the door closes and is surprised when she turns around to see that Clark was already out of his shirt and that he wore an undershirt, "Your not wearing your super suit today?" she asks curiously despite the fact that her eyes were currently fixed on his bulging biceps.
He gave her a look almost reluctant to answer because that would mean she was right, "There's no use in fighting me on this. I'm like a pit bull on pant leg when it comes to stories as big as this one." After the words left her she immediately regretted them and cringed from the look he was giving her almost as if she had punched him in the gut.
"Is that what this is…a story?" he advances towards her causing her to take a step back, "This is my life we're talking about Lois! If people found out who I really am and what I can do it would put my folks and Maggie at risk." He looks at her for a few seconds shaking his head negatively before leaving her alone with her mistake as he ignored the looks people gave him as he made his way to the rooftop unaware that Lois was close behind him.
Staring out at the skyline Clark tried to calm his anger but it didn't make things easier when he felt Lois's presences behind him, "I'm not in the mood for round two right now Lois."
"Good because I have something I need to get off my chest." She states looking downright nervous at what she was going to say to him, "Four years ago I met a man at a journalism seminar and from that moment on I knew we were going to be friends maybe more than that but then he left without so much as a goodbye." As she speaks she steps closer to him while his back is still turned to her, "I never understood what happened that would make you leave but know seeing you in action I knew that it wasn't what I did or said. There was a larger plan out there for you…a destiny to save people and I would never betray you just to get my name on the front page." She places a hand on his arm causing his head to turn and look at the sincerity written on her face, "If you never talk to me for the rest of your life I'll be okay with that but what I won't be able to live with is the idea of you hating me."
A cry for help reaches his ears causing conflicting emotions but his choice was already made, "Can we finish this later?" he climbs onto the roof's edge but before she could protest he fell.
Running to the edge Lois was surprised to see that he was there and ultimately looked up to see him hovering above her dressed in his red and blue costume with a smirk on his face, "That's not funny Clark!" she exclaims in response to his small chuckle.
"It was a little funny" responded Clark when the cries became louder prompting him to look to her and quickly state, "I'll be right back." He disappears in front of her eyes in a red blue blur while she awaited his return oblivious to the rather large smile that had spread across her face despite the way things were between them a few minutes ago.
The Next Day…
A groan escaped his throat when he spotted another snap shot of the unfortunate incident that had occurred during his latest rescue and almost cursed the person responsible for taking such a compromising image.
A blue mustang sped through the freeway out of control while the woman at the wheel repeatedly screamed in a panic while her foot continuously hit the break but the vehicle never stopped.
The car zipped from one lane to the other trying to avoid the car in front of her when suddenly the car jerked slamming through the metal barrier causing the car to now fall a great distance.
Bracing herself for the end it was a surprise and some what relief for the woman when her car never hit the bottom and felt as if it was floating.
People watched from their stopped cars to see the sight of the mystery hero slowly floating down the bottom where he began to lower the car back to the ground and fixed the dents made by his grip before he walked around the side of the car to let the woman out only to be thrown back when she wrapped her arms tightly around him and gave him another surprise…a kiss unaware that a teenager had been recording the whole incident.
Clark cleared his throat and put on a smile for the crowd that was forming around them, "Someone call 911. An incident like this can cause a great deal of stress on a person; you should make sure you weren't injured." He offers the woman a kind gesture then proceeds to slowly ascend towards the sky before disappearing through the clouds headed back towards the Daily Planet.
"Admiring your handy work stud?" Lois joked clearly finding this predicament amusing as she munched on a maple donut while Clark gives her look as he folds up the Inquisitor and throws it in the trash very tempted to burn it with his heat vision, "It could be a lot worse."
"How can it get any worse then it already is?"
"The guys in the basement thought it would be hilarious if they glued Jimmy to his chair." She looks over towards the young photographer who was busy getting snapshots of the bullpen testing out his new roll, "They had to cut him out of his pants and let's just say that we haven't been able to look at an American flag the same way since." She goes to lean against Clark's desk turning her back to the scene, "This is your glued pants moment."
"Real encouraging Lois." He turns his attention back to getting this article finished but her looming presences prevented any work from being done, "If you have something else to say I'd love to hear it." He states almost sarcastically.
Cautious as to who was listening she leaned closer to whisper, "We left our conversation unfinished yesterday and I was wondering if you maybe wanted to grab something to eat so we could talk."
He immediately stopped what he was doing and turned his head to look at her, "L-Like a date?" he asks with a slight stutter.
"No. I was just thinking something along the lines of pizza and beer." She sees a look that resembled disappointment, "I mean unless you want it to be date."
"No. That's okay." He quickly responded trying to make it less awkward than it already was between them.
"Lane! Kent" Perry's booming voice caused the reporters to look towards their editor's office, "In my office now!" the door slams and the rest of the bullpen goes back to the way it was while Lois and Clark just gave each other a look before they got up and headed towards the lion's den.
The two reporters sat down in front of their boss in an awkward silence as Perry went from the now closed door back towards his desk, "I just got word from the board…the Daily Planet's sales are failing and there have been talks about lay offs." He sees the look that crossed their faces and immediately held up his hand silencing them, "Now you don't have to worry because I convinced the board to extend the waiting period." He sits down in his comfortable chair ready to drop the bombshell on the already nervous couple, "Two of the biggest stories in this city are happening right now and I need my best reporters there to get the story before anyone else does. I've already assigned Lombard and Grant to the Luthor story which leaves this red blue blur guy to you two."
Lois cast a sideways glance towards Clark who just stared at the chief unresponsive towards the fact he'll have to cover his own superhero persona, "Effective immediately you two will begin your partnership."
"Chief…Mr. White." Clark immediately says while adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat, "I've only been working her for a few months. Shouldn't Lois be partnered with someone more seasoned?"
"You and Lois have more chemistry than any other reporter that's ever worked here. Now I know that you two have a history." They share a glance, "I don't care what the hell happened between you two just as long as it doesn't interfere with your work. You're going to work together and like it. Now get out of my office."
Clark is the first one out of the door with Lois following close behind, "I can't believe this." She says quietly once she sits down at her desk looking at the Daily Planet screensaver while he leaned against her desk with his arms folded.
"Could be worse." He says with a shrug, "We could be stuck down in the basement or worse looking for a new job and I really need this job."
She shook her head when suddenly she stopped after realizing what story Perry had assigned them to, "I think the thing we need to worry about is how we're going to get an exclusive interview with the red blue blur when he's standing right in front of me."
Rubbing the back of his neck Clark thought over her statement, "I think its time we finally had that talk."
TBC